Introduction

Introduction

This calendar is an astrological study guide for the soul. It is an invitation to journey through one full cycle of the Zodiac awake and aware, looking at the year from an ancient spiritual and intimate perspective.

This is an primeval adventure of personal insight and rebirth. The zodiac is there for all of us to see, it’s history has been handed down from generation to generation for thousands of years. Its origin is full of mystery and magic.  The same Sacred holy days are celebrated around the world based on these wonderful universal stories and symbols.

If in pondering astrology you ask: Does humanity still have free will? As the French say: “Les astres s’incline mais ne necessite pas” meaning: The stars do guide us, but do not command us. We will always be masters of our own destiny; we alone choose to move forward or not.

Preface

Mnemonic for the zodiac:

As The Great Cook Likes Very Little Salt, She Compensates Adding Pepper.

(Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, Pisces)

The Journey

Our zodiac is made up of twelve signs, or star clusters that regularly pass over our heads at night in a predictable manner throughout the year. Ancient stories have been told of how these patterns were created and how they affect us. Astrology is exactly this ancient lore and far from exact science of explaining how these signs influence our lives. Kings and wise men have consulted the stars since antiquity to interpret how they influence our personalities, loves, the outcomes of wars or the destinies of countries.

We know little of the Cosmos that our beautiful blue planet floats in. Our world wobbles and is prone to sun flares and volcanoes. We are still not able to say when any of these may occur. Our planet is covered by 80% water and yet we know more of space than we know of the deep-sea. We have yet a lot to learn.

As I write this, NASA has sent up its last space capsule. As explorers of our Universe, we now need to review our reasons for space flight; they have become self-serving as is human nature is wont to do. We are in the midst of re-dedicating ourselves to the magic of discovery while being fiscally responsible. What better place to start our investigation than with the ancient and sacred history and origin myths mankind created to inspire humanity throughout the ages with the wonder of the sacred dance of the start?

You will find each chapter is dedicated to one sign of the Zodiac. It seems there is much discussion around the exact dates for the beginning and end for each sign so choosing the sign itself to identify each post seems clearer. The special days highlighted in each chapter were chosen from many different calendars: Muslim, Pagan, Christian, Hindu, Buddhist, Jewish, Native American and others. This is to show that around our planet many different peoples and faiths celebrate and follow similar spiritual calendars. If important dates were overlooked, I apologize. Please add them to your personal year. This is an invitation to follow this ancient personal journey, offer yourself a time of inner reflection, meditation and sacred contemplation. This is a journey of change and renewal.

The focus here will be on the influence of the sacred feminine with a leaning towards non-violence. Understanding that the divine has no gender - Man has had his opportunity as a sacred symbol…the Christian calendar is a fine example of a spiritual year in which the feminine has been totally occulted. This study is an attempt to bring back the sacred feminine and celebrate our strengths and talents. The Great Goddess Mother is still very much with us, just waiting behind a veil of symbolism and tradition. She is amazingly ancient and has remained just under the surface of many cultures all along. A day will come when each woman on earth will understand her sacred mission as a Daughter and Priestess of the Sacred. We will again to take up our sacred responsibility as mother to Christ’s, Krishna’s and Buddha’s. As modern women, our duty is to bring about balance for the future of humankind and teach our offspring to be good stewards of our planet in an Age of Peace, in this new age of Aquarius.

Balancing the Sacred and the Everyday

Our ancestors knew that history is not linear, but cyclical, our spirit will come this way again. A sacred year can be lived more than once, and by reflecting on the message from each sign/month hidden in the holidays and festivities we can experience a very special initiation. Each month has an activity associated with its spiritual traditions from around the world. In this manner we can marry both hearth and altar, bringing the sacred into our everyday lives. In practicing in this yearlong mediation, you may come to realize how much we are part of a much larger whole that has been present for generations, that unites us as humans and that has been just waiting for us to join in the dance.

The conclusion to each month contains references to Esoteric Astrology. This is an astrology that focuses on the development of the human Soul. Our focus here is on the feminine journey, the Soul’s Purpose, allowing another, deeper energy to permeate our human awareness. Being aware of this larger sacred picture allows us to get out from under the influence of our emotions or the current stream of the collective unconscious.

The person who knows their Soul’s purpose sees life from a different perspective, knowing their strengths and their weaknesses; they are centered, not easily toppled and work generously from the heart.

It is with great joy that I offer this material, a blend of information from Joan Warnon,  Elizabeth Warnon and my own studies on the zodiac traditions both cultural and spiritual.